Act 2: First Day of School

Soo-jin stood in front of the white facade of her would be school, the Baekhap Girls' Academy. There's a bit weird feeling she had here, since Baekhap didn't mandate its students to wear uniform other than bright-colored shirt and contrasting bottom, and golden pin of Baekhap's fleur-de-lis. So, it's more like high-schools in United States, rather than in commonly Asian. However, Baekhap did issued some attires for special occasions, which are soft-pinkish blazers with gray/azure lining, ivory sweaters/vests, gray bows/ties and gray/azure pleated skirts. Most practice here are at least one issued-uniforms being wore, mostly the skirts and blazers or vests, with free clothing. This made Soo-jin stood out among others, since she's the only one wear a complete Baekhap uniform, which is very much awkward.

Since both Soo-jin and Hyun-jin enters school at the start of academic year, they don't need to report to faculties and could go straight into their assigned classroom. Still, things are going very awkward. Everyone in her class are chatting with each other, obviously, since they perhaps has known each other for maybe 3 years, and in this middle of buzzing atmosphere, she somehow could slip in middle rows without anyone noticing. She observed some of benches, before going to an empty bench. However, since there are two girls sit nearby, she gotta make sure that the bench is really empty and it's safe for her to sit here.

"Jeosonghamnida," said Soo-jin on one of the girl, which currently standing.

This girl turned to her. She's an average girl with ponytail and round small face, and eyes quite unusually wide for a Korean girl. She smiled to Soo-jin, well, at least she appeared harmless.

"Oh, ne, what can I do for you?" she asked.

"Is this seat empty? Can I take it?" asked Soo-jin.

"Yeah, sure, nobody here, so please sit on it."

"Gomapseumnida."

Soo-jin slowly put her bag on the bench.

"Hey, what's with those honorific speech? Let's talk in normal manner, eh?"

"Ah ne, that's..."

"Wait, I never saw you before, are you new here?"

Soo-jin noded.

"Ah! Daebak! Yu-ra-ya, we have a new friends here!" she pat on the other girls which seated.

"Yes, I can see that," said the girl named Yu-ra.

Yu-ra, this girl is somewhat calmer than the first girl, with gorgeous smile, long wavy hair, and a perfectly executed make-ups that doesn't make her face looks like a clown.

"Hei, I'm Hye-ri, Kang Hye-ri, and this is Yu-ra, Lee Yu-ra," said the first girl introduced herself as Hye-ri, "what's your name?"

"Oh, I'm Soo-jin, Ahn Soo-jin," said Soo-jin.

"Wow, Soo-jin-a, you have funny accent," said Yu-ra.

"Ah, do you come from Seoul? That must be Seoul accent, right? Are you Seoul natives? Tell me." said Hye-ri excitedly.

"Hey-hey, why do you asked her so fast? Can't you see that she's nervous?" said Yu-ra.

"Ah, mianhae, mianhae, mianhae, okay, please..." said Hye-ri.

"Actually, I come from Seoul alright..." said Soo-jin.

"Ah! See! I knew it!" said Hye-ri.

"Hey! Hold fire, will you? Please continue, Soo-jin-a," said Yu-ra.

"Right, right, mianhae, mianhae," said Hye-ri.

"Well, I come from Seoul, but I lived in Japan before moving here," said Soo-jin.

Both Hye-ri and Yu-ra startled with that answer.

"Japan? You mean, 'Ilbon'? So, you are ilbon-in?" asked Hye-ri.

"Half, my mother is Japanese, but my father is Korean," said Soo-jin.

"Wah, daebak! How is it like in Japan? Is it good there?" asked Hye-ri.

"Hye-ri-ya!" said Yu-ra.

"What!? I'm just excited, you know? I knew some girls that is Seoul-chonnom, but not with girl that lived in Japan!" said Hye-ri.

"I know, but don't bombard her with your rapid questions," said Yu-ra, "hey, ignore her, she's just the way she is."

"It's okay, I think Hye-ri-ya is interesting," said Soo-jin.

"Ohohohoho! You heard that?" said Hye-ri excited, "Girl, I like you already, don't go anywhere, stay with us, and we'll show you the way around school, how's that?"

"That sounds good," said Soo-jin smiled.

"As for now, we're friend," said Yu-ra.

The three girls shook hands, happy after finding new friendship. Soo-jin was currently enjoying the moment, however, she somehow felt that a pair of eye had been observing her from an unknown angle. She didn't know who did that, nor did if she's going to check whether her hunch was correct. She just too immersed in the conversation to do that.

"So, Soo-jin-a, do Japanese boys are handsome?" asked Hye-ri.

"I don't know how to say it, maybe no better than here, I guess," said Soo-jin, "I never really had chance to look for boys."

"Maybe you should look for Korean boys instead, Soo-jin-a," said Yu-ra.

"Maybe, but I don't know," said Soo-jin.

"By the way, do you like to listen to music, Soo-jin-a?" asked Hye-ri.

Soo-jin noded.

"Great, who's your favorite singer?" asked Hye-ri.

"I guess, Ayu..."

"IU? Oh, so you like IU? Daebak! What song?"

"Fura..."

"Friday! That must be 'Friday'! Oh, I like that song too! You really are friend made in heaven to us!"

Soo-jin noded awkwardly. She initially wanted to say "Fly High" from Ayumi Hamasaki, but she doesn't have heart to correct the overly excited Hye-ri.

"By the way, if there's something you'd like to ask, just ask," said Yu-ra.

"Oh, I just wanted to know, is there..."

"Jamkkanman, first what you have to do, you have to change that uniform," said Hye-ri, "nobody wears full-set uniform here, and it made things gone awkward, believe me, I knew it."

Hye-ri took something out of her bag. It's a casual blouse with lime color.

"Here, change your uniform with this," said Hye-ri.

"Or you can have mine, if Hye-ri's size doesn't fit," said Yu-ra, put a light violet casual blouse in front of Soo-jin.

"It's okay, I'm..."

"No, no, go to restroom now and change your clothes, okay, while the class hasn't started yet," said Hye-ri.

"Come on, just pick one suit you think the best," said Yu-ra.

"Go now," said Hye-ri.

"Ppali-ppali!" said Yu-ra.

"Alright, I'll go."

10 minutes later, Soo-jin finally decided which shirt she would use. It's Yu-ra's light violet blouse, more to the size of it. The one Hye-ri gave her was too tight, due to Hye-ri's slimmer posture. Now she doesn't looked like a fish out of water anymore. There are still few minutes left, so Soo-jin fix her make up a little bit. As she was doing that, a stern looking girl can be seen entering the restroom. She casually walked to the vanity, right next to Soo-jin.

This girl was seems to be in different level than Hye-ri or Yu-ra. She wore a most glamor looking make up she can be for a girl her age, long wavy hair that seems to be from an extensive hair care. Straight and classy posture, confident gesture, whoever this girl is, she's no ordinary.

"So, you're a new girl in class, right?" asked the girl.

"N-ne," said Soo-jin.

"I see you got along well with Yu-ra dan Hye-ri, that's good."

Soo-jin noded awkwardly. This girl talk in a cold tone, hard to fathom what's inside.

"Though for me, I'd prefer not to be hanging with them. And you should do that too, if you know what's good for you."

"Eh? Why?"

"They're somewhat unclassy."

"Unclassy? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ah, you'll see. There's still hope for you though, if you just do me a favor."

"What favor?"

"Later this day, give your token to me, I need that."

"Token? I don't understand."

The girl then faced Soo-jin, and fixed the position of fleur-de-lis pin on Soo-jin's shirt.

"You'll understand later, I don't want to ruin the fun just yet."

Soo-jin just stood there. The girl than tap lightly on the pin, and Soo-jin could feel the cold steel be pressed on her chest. Despite the subtleness, this is definitely an act of intimidation. Soo-jin just doesn't yet to know why such action is necessary. The girl then turn and head back to the door, stop slightly just below the doorway.

"Remember, I need that token of your."

With that cryptic message, she then disappeared into the door, leaving a baffled Soo-jin alone.

"Who is she, anyway?" asked Soo-jin.